ISIL’s destruction of antiquities in Syria and Iraq has prompted a secretive organisation to track and restore looted artefacts, while another international group wants to virtually recreate heritage lost to theft and vandalism.
It has no headquarters, no website, and no spokespersons prepared to see their real names in print or online.
Even the title of the secretive private organisation that has recently sprung up in response to the grave threat posed by ISIL to the cultural treasures of Syria and Iraq, has an anodyne feel to it.
But there is nothing dull about the self-imposed mission of the Committee for Shared Culture (CSC), a group of like-minded people who have come together to track down and recover the ancient artefacts that are – they fear – disappearing from archaeological sites throughout Iraq and Syria every day.
“We are a group of individuals who share a common interest in the ancient world,” says John Smith, a former classics student who spent some years working in the UAE and spoke on condition of anonymity.
“I have to consider the safety of my family,” he says.
It is a reasonable concern. ISIL has already demonstrated that it is capable of provoking, if not organising, violence in its name around the world, and if the CSC is successful in tracking down stolen pieces and the people who sell them to unscrupulous collectors, it will undoubtedly hit the ruthless organisation hard in the pocket.
“ISIL is definitely benefiting from the illegal trade – that is in no doubt,” Mr Smith says. “What we are trying to do is understand that illegal trade, map it out as best as we can, and then hand over what we have found to the relevant national authorities.”
The committee’s name is “rather bland”, he admits. “But what it recognises is that all of us have a stake in this material, and that for all of us what is happening is desperate and sad.”
That sense of universal loss is also the starting point for another project that has been set up in response to the theft and destruction of cultural artefacts in Iraq and Syria.
But while the undercover CSC sets about tracking down stolen objects, the international group of enthusiastic young professionals behind Project Mosul has an even more ambitious objective in mind.
By using the latest 3-D imaging technology, and crowdsourcing original images and manpower from volunteers through the internet, they plan the virtual recreation of stolen or destroyed artefacts.
These 3-D images will then be displayed in an online museum, where they can be seen and examined in detail from every angle.
Project Mosul was named after and inspired by the destruction of artefacts in Mosul museum, which was overrun by ISIL in February.
It was a “visceral” experience to read about and watch footage of the destruction of artefacts at Mosul, Hatra and Nimrud, says Chance Coughenour, founder of the project along with Matthew Vincent, and a fellow at an EU-funded project in Germany.
“It is absolutely heartbreaking to see heritage being destroyed in such a manner,” he says. “Destruction by natural causes, such as earthquakes, is bad enough.
“But seeing it done by other human beings has affected many people with no academic background or interest in archaeology, who have come to our website and offered to help.”
Although in no way will the online 3-D clones replace the lost treasures, the project offers “a message of hope”, says Mr Coughenour.
“By working together, it is possible to preserve our shared memory and connections to our cultural heritage, even renew and invigorate it, regardless of the acts of destruction currently being perpetrated.”
It promises to be a challenging task. “For an ideal 3-D reconstruction you need images from different angles and of the highest resolution,” says Mr Coughenour, from Pennsylvania in the US. “But what we’re trying to do is kind of reverse-engineer what was taken from the perspective of tourists.”
The response to appeals on Facebook and Twitter has been encouraging, and photographs of objects from many sites in the two countries have begun to flow in.
Now, through an online clearing house at projectmosul.org, volunteers are being recruited to sort and catalogue the images, and begin the skilled technical work of preparing them for 3-D reconstruction.
Such citizen responses are made possible by this digital era, which allows individuals unencumbered by unwieldy bureaucracy to react quickly to events, and play the type of roles that in the past would have been the exclusive domain of national or international organisations.
Besides, in the face of the continuing ISIL onslaught “authorities are very busy doing very important things, such as trying to save people’s lives”, Mr Smith says.
“We got together because we thought something needed to be done about the cultural losses, and if we got our heads together we could at least try to play our part.”
There is a highly active illegal trade in antiquities, which are ending up in the private collections of unscrupulous wealthy individuals around the world, the CSC says.
“Some people are just looting stuff ad hoc because they recognise it has value, and it gets passed along a chain of various middle men, agents and dodgy dealers, who all add their cut,” Mr Smith says.
Other material is being looted to order, the organisation believes.
Either way, “our aim is to identify those chains and then do everything that lies within our gift to disrupt them”.
The dozen or so members of CSC – a kind of “pop-up” Interpol – boast a range of skills that together constitute an impressive threat to the shady networks plundering the shared culture of the past.
Their ranks include academics, linguists, institutions, legitimate collectors and – crucially for a squad combing the murky backwaters of the internet for clues – technical wizards using advanced algorithms to identify the wheelers, dealers and international networks exploiting the region’s conflict to line their own pockets.
“It’s actually wonderful what can be done these days, in a way that simply wasn’t possible 10 years ago,” Mr Smith says.
“It is possible to harvest vast amounts of data, some of which is out in the public domain, some of which is harder to access, and use it to generate interesting insights and throw up common names and places.
“There is a surprising amount we are able to achieve online.”
Using smart algorithms, the group can also search for images and key names and words.
Armed with catalogues and registers from national archives and other sources, “We know what a lot of this stuff looks like. So just as you can search for words and phrases on Google, there’s now a clever bit of technology that means we can start matching images,” Mr Smith says.
There is a third strand to the investigation: “Good old-fashioned human sleuthing, with people just going online into chatrooms and forums, having a look around and having conversations with people to try to work out what is going on.”
One thing the CSC has already learnt is that some of those involved in the criminal networks “are not the smartest crooks in the world”, Mr Smith says. “They’re chatting away about this stuff, not even in hidden chatrooms but on Facebook pages.
“We have identified some really interesting stuff. And the more we uncover, the more names we find and the patterns we start to recognise.
“We have already had a few lightbulb moments, and that’s very helpful. It means everybody is then able to direct their time and energy to following specific leads.”
Financial backing has come from an influential private organisation with a vested interest in protecting the world’s shared heritage. But the group would welcome more support, and is open to recruiting anyone who shares their concerns and thinks they have skills it could use.
With no names, numbers or even email addresses, getting in touch is a problem. Eventually, the CSC might put its own website online. But it says it will investigate any queries or tips passed to The National by readers.
Tracking down stolen pieces is one thing. But nothing, of course, not even online reconstruction, can replace priceless objects smashed by ISIL.
Without extensive and precise photography carried out for the purpose, the prospect of 3D-printing life-size replicas is little more than a dream. “We can only go so far,” Mr Coughenour says.
The online museum will, he admits, be only “a halfway house, a memory”. In the end, he says, this is about commemorating “everyone’s heritage, not just the people of Iraq or Syria, and it’s about helping people to understand what it means to destroy our universal human history”.
FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT)
Tuesday
Mairobr v Liverpool
Spartak Moscow v Sevilla
Feyenoord v Shakhtar Donetsk
Manchester City v Napoli
Monaco v Besiktas
RB Leipzig v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur
Wednesday
Benfica v Manchester United
CSKA Moscow v Basel
Bayern Munich v Celtic
Anderlecht v Paris Saint-Germain
Qarabag v Atletico Madrid
Chelsea v Roma
Barcelona v Olympiakos
Juventus v Sporting Lisbon
The%20specs%3A%20Panamera%20Turbo%20E-Hybrid
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E680hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E930Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh749%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Alnamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMicrofinance%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFamily%20offices%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Spare
Profile
Company name: Spare
Started: March 2018
Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah
Based: UAE
Sector: FinTech
Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019
Results
Stage 4
1. Dylan Groenewegen (NED) Jumbo-Visma 04:16:13
2. Gaviria (COL) UAE Team Emirates
3. Pascal Ackermann (GER) Bora-Hansgrohe
4. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal
General Classification:
1. Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 16:46:15
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:07
3. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 0:01:35
4. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:40
5. Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
Stats at a glance:
Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)
Number in service: 6
Complement 191 (space for up to 285)
Top speed: over 32 knots
Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles
Length 152.4 m
Displacement: 8,700 tonnes
Beam: 21.2 m
Draught: 7.4 m
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
RESULT
Liverpool 4 Southampton 0
Jota (2', 32')
Thiago (37')
Van Dijk (52')
Man of the match: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
TICKETS
For tickets for the two-day Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) event, entitled Dubai Invasion 2019, on September 27 and 28 go to www.meraticket.com.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
%3Cp%3EFly%20with%20Etihad%20Airways%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20New%20York%E2%80%99s%20JFK.%20There's%2011%20flights%20a%20week%20and%20economy%20fares%20start%20at%20around%20Dh5%2C000.%3Cbr%3EStay%20at%20The%20Mark%20Hotel%20on%20the%20city%E2%80%99s%20Upper%20East%20Side.%20Overnight%20stays%20start%20from%20%241395%20per%20night.%3Cbr%3EVisit%20NYC%20Go%2C%20the%20official%20destination%20resource%20for%20New%20York%20City%20for%20all%20the%20latest%20events%2C%20activites%20and%20openings.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
The bio
Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist
Favourite Authors: Arab poet Abu At-Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi
Favourite Emirati food: Luqaimat, a deep-fried dough soaked in date syrup
Hobbies: Reading and drawing
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The%20Mother%20
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELECTION%20RESULTS
%3Cp%3EMacron%E2%80%99s%20Ensemble%20group%20won%20245%20seats.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20second-largest%20group%20in%20parliament%20is%20Nupes%2C%20a%20leftist%20coalition%20led%20by%20Jean-Luc%20Melenchon%2C%20which%20gets%20131%20lawmakers.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20far-right%20National%20Rally%20fared%20much%20better%20than%20expected%20with%2089%20seats.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20centre-right%20Republicans%20and%20their%20allies%20took%2061.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
- Steve Baker
- Peter Bone
- Ben Bradley
- Andrew Bridgen
- Maria Caulfield
- Simon Clarke
- Philip Davies
- Nadine Dorries
- James Duddridge
- Mark Francois
- Chris Green
- Adam Holloway
- Andrea Jenkyns
- Anne-Marie Morris
- Sheryll Murray
- Jacob Rees-Mogg
- Laurence Robertson
- Lee Rowley
- Henry Smith
- Martin Vickers
- John Whittingdale
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Sly%20Cooper%20and%20the%20Thievius%20Raccoonus
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sucker%20Punch%20Productions%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%202%20to%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Laughing Apple
Yusuf/Cat Stevens
(Verve Decca Crossover)
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017